The weekend is nearly here! Happy Fri-YAY! I hope your week is rounding out nicely and that the next few days will be filled with some relaxation and holiday fun.
Ryan and I have plans head out on a date night on Saturday and hike with friends on Sunday since my mom is still in town for a couple more days and has kindly offered to watch Chase. I’m excited!
And now, since it’s Friday you know it’s time for Things I’m Loving Friday! As always, below you will find a list of the things I’m loving most this week. I’d love for you to participate as well and tell me about something that is making you smile in the comments section of this post.
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Balsam Candles
Balsam candles trump all other holiday scents for me during the holiday season. (The Balsam & Cedar candle from Anthropologie is heaven.) The smell of Christmas trees cannot be topped and I have been burning a pine-scented candle every day since we decorated our house for the holidays. Now that I’m following advice from The Happiness Project and actually using my candles rather than saving them for no real reason, it feels nice to enjoy them every day.
- Stitch Fix Blanket Scarf
I requested a blanket scarf in my most recent Stitch Fix box and received the coziest black, charcoal and cream scarf that I cannot seem to take off! There are a million different ways to wear a blanket scarf and it’s my new favorite winter accessory. I actually kept all but one item in my last fix so it was an all-around success! Thanks, StitchFix!
(Similar scarves: Tan & Navy Blanket Scarf, Black & Tan Scarf, Plaid Blanket Scarf <—Gorgeous affordable Etsy find!)
Christmas nerd alert! I cannot help but smile at the ridiculous reindeer cars popping up all over the place this holiday season. I bought the antlers and red Rudolph nose to outfit my car a few years ago and still get a kick out of it. Embrace the holiday goofiness! (Side note: Sadie always thinks the nose is a big red ball we packed away just for her whenever we bring it out of storage every year.)
- Working From My Desktop
With my mom in town this week, I’ve been able to work from my desktop every day and it is SUCH a treat. Oh my gosh, how I’ve missed working from a real work station with a monitor, comfy chair and all of my paperwork, etc. around me. I’m almost always working from my laptop on the couch while multitasking mommy duties, so some quiet time to plug away at my desk this week was wonderful. I owe my mom the biggest thank you for her help while she’s in town, that’s for sure.
- Elfster: Secret Santa Exchange
It’s that time of year again: Secret Santa exchanges are in full swing! I set up two exchanges this year with some of my best girlfriends and, once again, used Elfster to make everything a breeze. Elfster is a free site that allows you to create a Secret Santa exchange and draw names without the person who set up the exchange knowing who has whom. It’s awesome! You can also create wish lists within the site to help everyone in your exchange with gift-giving inspiration. I’ve been using Elfster for Secret Santa exchanges for years and highly recommend it!
- Headbands of Hope #GivingTuesday Donations
You guys are amazing! On Tuesday, I posted a picture of some of the adorable headbands made by Headbands of Hope on Instagram because they promised to donate one headband to a child with cancer for each new Instagram follower they received on #GivingTuesday. Well, they received 3,000 new followers, so they will be donating 3,000 headbands. So wonderful! Thank you to all of you who followed @HeadbandsofHope and helped with this initiative!
- Your Comments and Baby Sleep Support
One more thing I am REALLY loving this week is all of the kind and thoughtful comments (and emails!) I received in response to Wednesday’s blog post. THANK YOU. It’s so nice to hear I’m not alone in the new baby sleep struggles and I’m happy to hear so many of you were able to find a way to bring some sleep back into your lives. Thank you for sharing your experiences with me. I am still making my way through all of your wonderful comments and emails and will be taking them into account as we visit Chase’s pediatrician for his four-month visit on Monday. (I really want his doctor’s opinion on everything, too!) Thank you again. You guys are so great.
- Giveaway Winners
Congratulations to Dee, the winner of the Sequel giveaway and Lia, the winner of The Honest Company bundle giveaway! Both winners have already been emailed. Thanks so much to all who entered!
Question of the Day
- What is one thing you are loving this week?
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Sausages re entered my life! Finally found ones that just have meat, fat and salt and pepper! #godsend LOVING blanket scarfs too! The only thing that is keeping me feeling any way warm at the moment! Have fun on your date night and hike!
Ohmigosh! Look at Chase! Could he be any cuter?
That scarf looks so cute on you! And thank you for the Secret Santa tip; I had no idea Elfster existed and that will make next year so much simpler.
Also…you always have the best looking candles! Not to sound like a creeper, but your house must always smell amazing. 🙂
There’s nothing cuter than a baby swaddled. Melt my heart!!! You look really cute in the scarf too, I should get scarfs for my mom and sisters for Christmas, you can always use another one!! My aunt just moved to Alaska and we were helping her clean out her house and she had……get this….hundreds of brand new Yankee Candles. SO exciting!! My house smells pretty insane right now. Have a lovely weekend Julie!!!
I loveeee your desk top workspace. I feel like I would be SO productive there. Natural light, pretty frames and a Christmas tree! That’s so great that you and Ryan will have a date night out, woop woop1
I bet it is nice to sit at a desk and work next to the Christmas tree too! I would have a hard time concentrating with the pretty setup!
Love the post! Your workstation looks so nice! Where did you get your desk chair? I’ve been looking everywhere for something along those lines.
Wayfair!
I’m just loving the fact that after this super long day, I get to sleep in and do nothing tomorrow!!!
william is almost 20 months now and we’re facing more sleep issues…. he’s the worst sleeper ever lol time to start sleep training again!! good luck, girl. i feel you! xo
Wow, I will have to download that app for secret santa! what a great idea!
This week I’m loving my newly decorated apartment for Christmas!
I love blanket scarfs! I got the warmest one from Primark for $7! Where is your office desk from, I am on the hunt for a desk and love the color of yours!
That scarf looks so cozy. I have heard a lot of good things about StichFix. Now as a new mommy it is even harder to get out to shop for myself, so that might be a Christmas gift to myself…..we shall see. Hope you have a great (restful) weekend!
I received my bundles from honest & love them! The toothpaste is amazing plus the vitamins!
I got some amazing deals on bath & body works candles on Black Friday and I’m determined to have at least one lit in the house every day. Make such a huge difference!
Happy FriYAY indeed 🙂 This week I’m loving my new Garmin watch that I got on the sales! It’s been great so far and I can’t wait to try it out swimming 🙂
Aw, you have such a beautiful home! This weekend I’m looking forward to the Winter Formal and Snowshoeing up in the mountains. 🙂
I love Elfster! My friends and I used to be able to just draw names for our annual Secret Santa at school, but then college happened and now we’re in different states until winter break. Elfster lets us keep the tradition 😀
This Friday Im loving that we finally got our wedding pictures in! I was wondering if you went some place particular to get the framing work done in the picture above with your desk? (PS your tree looks great!) Ive heard Michael’s will do it, and you can utilize coupons usually which is always great! Happy Friday!
Nope! I just got all the frames from IKEA! They were super cheap!! 🙂
That scarf looks so cute on you!
And yay for date night–enjoy!
I’m loving the fact that it’s Friday. It’s been a loooong week, so I welcome the weekend with open arms. 🙂
Hahaha reindeer cars are my favorite. They’re so silly, but that’s what makes them so cute, as far as I’m concerned. I always smile when I see one!
Oh man! Elfster sounds great, wish I had seen that before! We do our secret santa drawing on Thanksgiving and we had to do it a few times as some people go their own names. Next year I hope to remember this website!
Elfster is a great idea! Thanks for sharing. I hope both you and Chase can start getting on a more regular sleep schedule. He’s so cute. <3 Enjoy your date night!
HI julie,
I never comment, but I had read your post about baby sleep yesterday and it totally resonated. I have a 4 year old and 20 month old boy. I love them both to pieces and in regards to sleep, I can see we tried it ALL. In hindsight, I have learned that acceptance is huge. We cannot control our precious little bundles, and it is an innate need for them to want to be held and close for most of their early days. We spent 8 months holding our 2nd boy for naps because it was the only way he would sleep. I thought it would never end, but eventually it did and by 16 months, he slept through the night. We did what we had to do to survive the tough period, but through many crying it out approaches and realizing it just would not work for our unique son, we gave up, accepted him for who he was, and got through it. Each baby’s little nervous system is so unique!!! Best of luck. i feel your struggle.
LOVE your desktop wallpaper!
One thing I’m loving this week that is seriously gross…my tongue scraper. I just bought some for us about 2 weeks ago (and have been using it after each meal). The other night I forgot to scrape before brushing my teeth (and tongue) and THEN did the scraper. Holy crud! I was amazed at what was still left even after a good cleaning! I know, so gross but something you don’t think about. Now please go look at your child or dog to get that nasty image out of your head! LOL
Reindeer car…Love it so much!
I love your scarf! You can totally rock that! I’m loving the colder weather— I’m getting great use out of my sweaters now!
Your office has so much xmas spirit! I love it! I’ve also starting burning pine scented candles in hopes of filling our home with that awesome smell, without having a real tree. We are going back to the east coast to join our families so we didn’t buy a xmas tree this year. Hopefully we will get our xmas lights up this weekend though! I’ve also really enjoyed driving through the neighborhoods after work and seeing all the houses decked out in holiday spirit. Can’t help but enjoy it!
I’m such a sucker for pine scented anything. These candles are outrageously expensive, but totally worth it 🙂 I used to work at a spa and we’d burn them during the holidays…it smelled amazing!
I absolutely LOVE your work/desk area! It looks so inviting and fresh! Some things I’m loving today are definitely Christmas ANYTHING. I finally bought the movie “The Santa Clause” and had a blast watching it while wrapping gifts last night. I am also loving holiday/winter scented candles! Kohl’s had 50% off Sonoma candles a few days ago and I totally took advantage of that sale. 🙂 I am currently the scent of Mistletoe and Holly when I get home from work. And finally, one last thing I’m loving is being able to celebrate my 1st wedding anniversary this Saturday-Sunday with my husband. Have a great weekend, Julie!
I have a giant monitor on my desktop so anytime I have to work from a laptop is like pulling teeth. Things get done so much faster at my desk!
Ha! Julie! You have those car antlers? Totally funny! That’s awesome your Momma has been around for so long helping you out. And I’m doing a family name draw through DrawNames.com which is also pretty easy to use. Have a great weekend! 🙂
THIS is an amazing tutorial on so many ways to tie a blanket scarf!!!
I have mad Christmas tree by your desk envy! What a great place to have some festive cheer to spark the creative juices!
I have been struggling with being grateful this past month. I was unexpectedly laid off (first time experiencing this) & it’s not a feeling I would wish in anyone! My husband has been wonderfully supportive! I have been enjoying long hikes with our dog and trips to the beach every day on my time away from work. And just today I was invited for a second interview for a social media job! Woo Hoo! So this week I’m loving opportunity, love and the chance to hit pause and enjoy this time!!!!
I’ve been lusting after blanket scarves! I have yet to find just the right one.
Happy Friday! I’m loving Christmas music this week! It’s finals time for me which is always miserable, but listening to some holiday tunes while I study makes it a little bit more fun :).
Where’s your desk chair from!? It DOES look comfy!
Wayfair!
Love your desk chair! Do you recall where you got it?
Hi Julie! I’m so glad that you’ve had help from your mom this week. I think it’s amazing how she supports you and helps you and Ryan take a breather!
What I’m loving this week is making festive December plans! Between birthdays & holiday get togethers it’s going to be one fun month.
Mothering is the HARDEST JOB ON THE PLANET …. we are all here for you, Julie!